pose

Word Origin & History

late 14c., "suggest, propose, suppose, assume," from Old French poser "put, place, propose," a term in debating, from Late Latin pausare "to halt, rest, pause" (source also of Italian posare, Spanish posar; see pause (v.)). The Old French verb (in common with cognates in Spanish, Italian, Portuguese) acquired the sense of Latin ponere "to put, place," by confusion of the similar stems. Meaning "put in a certain position" is from early 15c. Sense of "assume a certain attitude" is from 1840; the transitive sense (as an artist's model, etc.) is from 1859. Related: Posed; posing.

Example Sentences for pose

There was no change in the face or pose of the man who listened to the reading.

Voice, pose and gesture proclaimed at least the excellent mimic.

If you pose as a little god, you must pose for better for worse.

At the last push of fate Shakespeare will pose and deceive himself.

I wasn't so enamoured with the ancients as I thought I was; but I was enamoured with your contemplation ...

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